January 20, 2026 The Honorable Mike Lee Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Martin Heinrich Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Oppose the Nomination of Stevan Pearce
Preservation Groups Urge Caution on Proposed Rifle Range Near Appomattox Courthouse Battlefield
Appomattox County Board of Supervisors 333 Court St. Appomattox, VA 24522 Chair Hinkle, Vice-Chair Jones, and members of the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors, We, the below undersigned organizations, write to you today regarding CUP250870, Rifleman’s Resort. We are a collection of national park and battlefield preservation non-profits dedicated to protecting and preserving our
BLM’s Direct Final Rule Sidesteps the Law to Delay Critical Oil and Gas Bonding Protections
January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED VIA REGULATIONS.GOV (BLM-2025-0269) U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630) Bureau of Land Management 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646 Washington, D.C. 20240, Attention: 1004-AF43 Re: Comments on Direct Final Rule – Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Statewide Bonds; Extension of Phase-in Deadline To Whom It May
National Park Leaders Urge EPA to Reject Rollbacks to Clean Water Act Protections
December 29, 2025 Comment re: Updated Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025- 0322 We are writing on behalf of more than 4,700 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), who collectively represent more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates,
Environmental Groups Urge FAA and NPS to Halt Bay Area Air Tour Agreement, Citing Court Order Violations and Threats to National Parks
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS MARIN AUDUBON SOCIETY, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, WATERSHED ALLIANCE OF MARIN December 30, 2025 Sandra Fox, Environmental Protection Specialist Federal Aviation Administration Submitted to: NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System, https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=147892 PUBLIC COMMENT – Notice of Availability of Proposed Voluntary Agreement Dear Ms. Fox, The Coalition to
88 Conservation Groups Warn ESA Rollbacks Would Weaken Protections and Push Birds Closer to Extinction
US Fish and Wildlife Service 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway, 14th Floor Silver Spring, MD 20910 19 December 2025 Subject: Conservation Groups Oppose Rules which would Weaken Endangered Species Act Attn: Docket Nos. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0029, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0039, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0044, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0048 On behalf of
SELC Urges Withdrawal of Harmful ESA Rollbacks That Threaten Southern Biodiversity
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of a coalition of 45 conservation organizations across the Southeast, submits detailed comments opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s and National Marine Fisheries Service’s November 2025 proposed rollbacks to Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations, arguing that they would revive discredited 2019 Trump-era rules, undermine decades of
Coalition Urges BLM to Defer April 2026 Oil & Gas Lease Parcels Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s Wilderness
December 19, 2026 Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office Branch of Fluid Minerals Attention: Hattie Payne 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101 Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the BLM Montana-Dakotas 2026 Second Quarter (April) Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2025-0010-EA) To whom it may concern: I
Coalition Urges Congress to Protect National Parks and Park Staff in FY26 Appropriations
December 19, 2025 Dear Chairs Collins, Murkowski, Cole and Simpson, Vice Chair Murray, and Ranking Members Merkley, DeLauro and Pingree, We, the members of the National Parks Second Century Action Coalition, urge you to support our national parks and national park staff as you conference the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
Retired Park Leaders: Lee Proposal Could “Gut National Parks” And “End The National Park Service As We Know It”
For Immediate Release: December 17, 2025 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Retired Park Leaders: Lee Proposal Could “Gut National Parks” And “End The National Park Service As We Know It” In response to Chairman Mike Lee advancing a proposal that could green-light the selling off, transferring and giving away of national parks, Emily Thompson, Executive Director
Congress Urged to Block Unlawful Plan to Artificially Suppress National Park Service Performance Ratings
Senator Mike Lee Chair, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee 304 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 Senator Martin Heinrich Ranking Member, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee 304 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Bruce Westerman Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources 1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable
Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Alaska’s Regional Haze Plan and Protect Visibility in National Parks
A coalition of conservation organizations—including the National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks—submitted a detailed letter urging the EPA to withdraw its proposed approval of Alaska’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the second planning period, arguing that the plan violates the Clean Air
Coalition Participates in Climate Action Now Panel
Coalition Executive Council member Elaine Leslie participated in a panel with Climate Action Now to discuss protecting our wildlife and how climate change is affecting wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. Watch here -> https://www.youtube.com/live/qT_gOA5UCJM?si=G-mq53Iu9Lb-Kk-d
NPT: National Park Superintendents Ordered To Cap Employee Evaluations
UPDATE | National Park Superintendents Ordered To Cap Employee Evaluations By Kurt Repanshek December 12, 2025 Editor’s note: This is updates with additional details from NPS employees and Interior Department response. Top National Park Service officials, in an apparent violation of federal law, have directed park superintendents to reduce evaluation scores for employees, including themselves.
Don’t Turn Capitol Reef Into an Off-Road Park: Congress Must Reject S.2970
The Honorable Mike Lee Chairman Senate Energy and Natural Resources The Honorable Martin Heinrich Ranking Member Senate Energy and Natural Resources CC: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Members RE: Oppose S.2970 – To authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich,
36 Community Groups to EPA: Don’t Weaken Regional Haze Protections for Parks and Communities
350 Colorado * Access Fund * AFGE Local 704 * Alpine Lakes Protection Society Archaeology Southwest * Breathe Project * Central California Asthma Collaborative Central Valley Air Quality Coalition * Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Environmental Law & Policy Center * Families for a Livable Climate * Friends of Acadia Goldman School of Public
Environmental Groups Urge EPA: Keep Regional Haze Protections Strong for National Parks
December 1, 2025 A coalition of national and regional environmental and public health organizations is urging EPA not to weaken its Regional Haze Rule, the core program for clearing air pollution from America’s national parks and wilderness areas. They warn that EPA’s current proposal could create “off-ramps” that let states skip required cleanup plans, slow
Protecting Park Views: Coalition Urges EPA to Strengthen the Regional Haze Rule
Comments Submitted via regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-1477-0001 December 1, 2025 Paige Wantlin Air Quality Policy Division Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Environmental Protection Agency 109 TW Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Wa***********@*pa.gov Subject: Comments on EPA’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Visibility Protection: Regional Haze State Plan Requirements Rule Revision Dear Ms. Wantlin:
Statement: America’s best idea now America’s greatest shakedown with new park fees
Statement: America’s best idea now America’s greatest shakedown with new park fees On Tuesday 25 November, the Trump Administration announced that as of January 1, 2026, foreign visitors will need to pay an additional $100 to visit 11 popular national parks—on top of existing fees. The park pass will also jump to $250 for international
Government Shutdown Sends Ripples Through Science
Government shutdown sends ripples through science By Rachel Cohen KNPR (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada Public Radio Thursday, November 20, 2025 On Oct. 1, the day the government shut down after Congress failed to pass a budget, Jeremy Shaw was working deep in a meadow valley in Rocky Mountain National Park. A research scientist at Colorado
Coalition Urges Interior to Uphold Historic Integrity Amid White House Alterations and Interpretation Directives
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW November 19, 2025 The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington D.C., 20240 Dear Secretary Burgum: I am writing on behalf of more than 4,700 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), who collectively represent more than 50,000
Protecting Cumberland Island’s Wilderness: Coalition Opposes New Beach Access Road Proposal
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW Submitted by email to: el**************@****ga.gov November 1, 2025 Beth Byrnes Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way Brunswick, Georgia 31520 el**************@****ga.gov Subject: Foster Family Irrevocable Trust, Beach Driving Access Point, Atlantic Ocean, Cumberland Island, Camden County, Georgia Dear Ms. Byrnes: I am writing
The Wilderness Society & Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Urge BLM to Strengthen Wyoming Lease Sale Analysis
The Wilderness Society & Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Urge BLM to Strengthen Wyoming Lease Sale Analysis October 30, 2025 — The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks submitted joint comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Organizations Urge BLM to Prioritize Ecosystem Health and Climate Resilience in Utah 2026 Lease Sale
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD * COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS * NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION * NEW MEXICO WILDLIFE FEDERATION * THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY October 27, 2025 Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office Attention: Christina Price 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1345 SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING Re: Scoping comments on
Conservation Groups Protest Utah BLM’s Q4 2025 Oil & Gas Lease Sale
Conservation Groups Protest Utah BLM’s Q4 2025 Oil & Gas Lease Sale October 23, 2025 — Salt Lake City, UT Rocky Mountain Wild, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have filed a formal protest against the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Q4 2025 Competitive Oil and